I was among the millions of people who flocked to theaters recently to see “Top Gun: Maverick.” It’s one of the best movies I’ve seen in years.

My friend Lt. Col. Rob “Waldo” Waldman is an American author, motivational speaker, leadership consultant, and founder of the Wingman Foundation. He is a decorated fighter pilot and retired Air Force officer and combat veteran, having flown 65 combat missions. He loved the film because “it shows how important it is for us to coach, guide and lead our young people through challenges and fear”.

“Top Gun: Maverick” is full of business and life lessons. This film says a lot about values: values ​​that uplift and inspire and encourage and say “I’m with you no matter what.”

Among the other fundamental values ​​that I retained in the film:

Trust – The most important word in business is trust. It takes years to establish trust, but only seconds to destroy it. Trust is essential for doing business with anyone. I can only imagine the level of trust fighter pilots, flying at breakneck speeds and performing mind-blowing maneuvers, must have in each other. Lack of confidence could mean a life or death situation.

Commitment – No one gets into the cockpit of one of these jets without full commitment. When you commit to something, you accept no excuses, only results. Commitment is a prerequisite for success. Commitment is the state of being tied – emotionally, intellectually, or both – to a plan of action. Commitment begins with a choice and is backed by dedication and perseverance.

Courage — It’s easy to be ordinary. Courage is what sets you apart from the crowd. Courage is considered one of the main human virtues. Courage is bravery, bravery, guts and nerve all rolled into one. I am neither a soldier, nor a policeman, nor a doctor, nor a first aider; I’m a businessman. So what does courage have to do with running a business? Plenty. I agree that most people’s daily lives aren’t filled with dramatic Hollywood challenges. We all face situations that require us to reach deep within ourselves to do what is right and courageous and sometimes difficult. Courage can involve making unpopular, time-consuming, or even costly decisions.

Fellowship/Friendship — I’ve heard this quote many times, including from my good friend, Muhammad Ali: “Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It’s not something you learn in school. But if you haven’t learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven’t learned anything.”

Adversity – I’ve never met a successful person who hasn’t had to overcome a little – or a lot – of adversity. The impact and the end result depends on what you do with the difficulties that come your way. The adversities I have experienced have made me stronger, more fearless, and ultimately more effective.

Perfection – The old adage that practice makes perfect is not true. You must add one word: Perfect practice makes perfect. It doesn’t matter if you’re practicing a presentation, a golf swing, or piloting a jet, you want to improve your performance, not repeat practice mistakes.

Passion – Passion tops the list of skills you need to excel in any profession. If you don’t have a deep, intense, burning desire for what you do, there’s no way you can work the long, hard hours it takes to be successful. However, if you’re not very good at what you’re passionate about, it won’t matter.

Mackay’s moral: As Waldo Waldman says, “There’s a time and a place where we have to be a ‘Top Gun’.”

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Harvey Mackay is the author of the New York Times bestseller “Swim With Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive”. He can be reached through his website, www.harveymackay.com, by emailing [email protected] or by writing to him at MackayMitchell Envelope Co., 2100 Elm St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414.